In My Sturgis Days stories I have written about things and people I actually knew. Old Mr. Bevells, his old maid daughter Miss Sallie, and my Dad whom I referred to as Old Sam. I did not intend to be disrespectful in calling him Old Sam because I had, and have, the upmost respect and love for him. He was a man of sterling character. I never heard him use foul language, that is he did not cuss. I never knew him to imbibe strong drink until he was well into his dotage, and then only because his doctor suggested it would help with his heart condition. After his death in 1957 my brother and I found about three cases of good whiskey hidden in various place around the house, and that was in Adry, Mississippi. That was whiskey brought to him because of his need.

Old Sam was born and raised in Pickens Co., Ala., during hard times of the nineteenth century. He married my Mother, Lizzie Hollingsworth, in June 1906 and they had six children, two of whom died in infancy, and now I am the last of that family. He followed the lumber industry most of his life, farmed some, worked for the M&O (Mobile & Ohio Railroad) in Mobile, Ala. He attended a number of singing schools in his early life and had a wonderful bass voice with a range to B below low C on the scale. We were a singing family in our home, we loved to harmonize and blend our voices in various songs. Songs in those days had more meaning than some I hear today.

When we lived on the Homer McMinn place south of Sturgis we entertained ourselves with songs that were familiar in those days. Someone, I do not recall who it was, visited us one day when we were in a singing mood and marveled at Old Sam's bass voice. Through this person word reached Wake Forest Baptist Church of his singing ability and he was invited to sing at the church on many occasions. I recall someone would come for him since we did not have a car or other means of transport. One time even a horse drawn buggy took Old Sam to Wake Forest to sing. He enjoyed those singing occasions and we were happy for him to have those experiences. One thing has always bothered me, why didn=t they ask all of us in the family to come sing?